Published: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 8:03 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 8:03 p.m.

In early May, Terry Benjey posted on CapeFearCyclists.org a bit about the upcoming Ride of Silence, an annual silent procession to honor cyclists who died or were injured on the road. Now, next year, participants will be honoring Benjey.

The 69-year-old died Monday night at New Hanover Regional Medical Center from injuries suffered the week before during a ride around Wilmington's Greenfield Lake. As a founding member of one of the biggest and oldest cycling organizations in the Port City, Cape Fear Cyclists, his death shocked many who knew him as an experienced rider, and upset the area's tight-knit cycling community.

"It's devastating because he taught so much of us how to ride. He taught me how to ride," said Eileen McConville, the club's president.

The death prompted an outpouring of love and support, with cyclists taking to Facebook to express their sympathies.

It also served also as a reminder about the unfortunate accidents that can befall them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 677 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2011 (Benjey's death did not involve a motor vehicle), and that 38,000 were injured. While both those figures are trending downward, the number of bicycle injuries may be much higher considering that fewer than 10 percent of them are ever recorded by police, according to the Pedestrian Bicycle and Safety Information Center.

The sad series of events involving Benjey began Wednesday evening, after 30 or so riders had amassed for their weekly wheel around Greenfield Lake. A group of about a dozen of those formed what is known as a paceline – the formation commonly seen during televised cycling races, where riders stay close to the wheel of the bike in front of them to reap the benefits of the wind draft.

At some point, a member of that paceline hit something in the road, setting off a chain reaction that sent four riders flying off their bikes. One of them was Benjey, who landed on his head, McConville said. All the riders were wearing helmets in accordance with club rules.

Benjey, the oldest of 10 children, had been listed in critical condition over the weekend but succumbed about 11:30 p.m. Monday.

The fact that Benjey's father died in March, with a memorial and interment for his ashes scheduled in July, made Benjey's death all the more jarring for the family, said his sister, Kathleen Boyer.

"We haven't even actually buried Dad and now we've lost Terry," she said. "It's devastating."

Benjey attended grade school in Dorchester, Ill., "a country town in the middle of no place" that then boasted a population of about 150, Boyer said. He started riding bicycles as a kid, once falling after the road had been newly tarred, covering him with black from "head to toe."

By 15 he knew the mechanics of bicycles, and opened up a makeshift shop in his family's garage. A year or two later, he opened Terry's Bike Shop in an actual storefront.

After high school, Boyer said, Benjey served four years in the Air Force, a good chunk of his service spent servicing computer systems at the Pentagon.

The skills he honed there laid the groundwork for life to come. Once service ended, Benjey accepted a job installing computer systems at James Walker Memorial Hospital, the predecessor to New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Even after he left the hospital, he never left Wilmington. And he died the owner of a computer consulting firm, helping small businesses with their computer needs.

Also injured in Wednesday's crash was Robbie Driver, who by Monday had been discharged but was scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery, McConville said.

Benjey's death was particularly surprising given his emphasis on safety. For example, McConville said before Wednesday's ride, Benjey reviewed club's paceline rules with the group.

The accident led a few members to question whether the club should forbid pacelines. McConville said the board will broach the issue in future discussions, but acknowledged that a ban would be difficult to enforce.

<p>In early May, Terry Benjey posted on CapeFearCyclists.org a bit about the upcoming Ride of Silence, an annual silent procession to honor cyclists who died or were injured on the road. Now, next year, participants will be honoring Benjey. </p><p>The 69-year-old died Monday night at <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9969"><b>New Hanover Regional Medical Center</b></a> from injuries suffered the week before during a ride around Wilmington's <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic64"><b>Greenfield Lake</b></a>. As a founding member of one of the biggest and oldest cycling organizations in the Port City, Cape Fear Cyclists, his death shocked many who knew him as an experienced rider, and upset the area's tight-knit cycling community.</p><p>"It's devastating because he taught so much of us how to ride. He taught me how to ride," said Eileen McConville, the club's president. </p><p>The death prompted an outpouring of love and support, with cyclists taking to <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/facebook"><b>Facebook</b></a> to express their sympathies. </p><p>It also served also as a reminder about the unfortunate accidents that can befall them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 677 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2011 (Benjey's death did not involve a motor vehicle), and that 38,000 were injured. While both those figures are trending downward, the number of bicycle injuries may be much higher considering that fewer than 10 percent of them are ever recorded by police, according to the Pedestrian Bicycle and Safety Information Center.</p><p>The sad series of events involving Benjey began Wednesday evening, after 30 or so riders had amassed for their weekly wheel around Greenfield Lake. A group of about a dozen of those formed what is known as a paceline – the formation commonly seen during televised cycling races, where riders stay close to the wheel of the bike in front of them to reap the benefits of the wind draft. </p><p>At some point, a member of that paceline hit something in the road, setting off a chain reaction that sent four riders flying off their bikes. One of them was Benjey, who landed on his head, McConville said. All the riders were wearing helmets in accordance with club rules.</p><p>Benjey, the oldest of 10 children, had been listed in critical condition over the weekend but succumbed about 11:30 p.m. Monday. </p><p>The fact that Benjey's father died in March, with a memorial and interment for his ashes scheduled in July, made Benjey's death all the more jarring for the family, said his sister, Kathleen Boyer.</p><p>"We haven't even actually buried Dad and now we've lost Terry," she said. "It's devastating." </p><p>Benjey attended grade school in Dorchester, Ill., "a country town in the middle of no place" that then boasted a population of about 150, Boyer said. He started riding bicycles as a kid, once falling after the road had been newly tarred, covering him with black from "head to toe." </p><p>By 15 he knew the mechanics of bicycles, and opened up a makeshift shop in his family's garage. A year or two later, he opened Terry's Bike Shop in an actual storefront. </p><p>After high school, Boyer said, Benjey served four years in the Air Force, a good chunk of his service spent servicing computer systems at the Pentagon. </p><p>The skills he honed there laid the groundwork for life to come. Once service ended, Benjey accepted a job installing computer systems at James Walker Memorial Hospital, the predecessor to New Hanover Regional Medical Center. </p><p>Even after he left the hospital, he never left Wilmington. And he died the owner of a computer consulting firm, helping small businesses with their computer needs. </p><p>Also injured in Wednesday's crash was Robbie Driver, who by Monday had been discharged but was scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery, McConville said. </p><p>Benjey's death was particularly surprising given his emphasis on safety. For example, McConville said before Wednesday's ride, Benjey reviewed club's paceline rules with the group. </p><p>The accident led a few members to question whether the club should forbid pacelines. McConville said the board will broach the issue in future discussions, but acknowledged that a ban would be difficult to enforce. </p><p>"It's like anything else," she said, "accidents happen." </p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9904"><b>Brian Freskos</b></a>: 343-2327</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @BrianFreskos</p>